Tamperproof seal



June 30, 1936. A. A. MASSINI 2,046,127

TAMPERPROOF SEAL Filed July 16, 1955 ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

This invention relates to tamper-proof seals for packages, parcels, cartons, and the like.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a fastener adapted for securing the free ends or edges of a folded strip of paper which latter has been so folded as to render the written matter borne thereby inaccessible without mutilation of the fastener and the paper, the fastener thus functioning as a tamper-proof seal whereby 0 unauthorized opening or tampering may be readily detected.

A further object of the invention is to provide a seal of the character described which is readily applicable to cartons and packages for securing the latter without the use of cord, gummed tape, or the like, such seals preventing unauthorized access to the interior and substantially preventing tampering with the original contents.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined fastener and seal adapted to be conveniently applied and so constructed as to secure the open end of a carton or the free edges of a folded paper without the risk of chance or accidental displacement during handling.

With these and other objects in view, the invention resides in the features of construction and manner of attachment which will be explained in the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in 30 which Figure 1 is a perspective View of a folded paper with the seal applied to the free ends;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3, Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a fragmentary section of the seal depicting one of the tangs in detail;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view similar to that depicted in Fig. 2 and illustrating a modified form of the invention; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one end of a carton depicting a plurality of the seals at- 45 tached to the hinged closure thereof.

Referring to said drawing, the reference numeral l designates a strip of paper bearing written or printed matter on one side thereof and which has been folded longitudinally about 50 itself and then subjected to a single transverse fold midway between its ends so as to conceal the written matter from view, the strip when thus folded appearing as shown in Fig. 1.

A strip of light gauge sheet metal 2 substan- 55 tially U-shape in cross section is received in embracing relation by the two meeting ends of the strip (the latter at this point consisting of several thicknesses or layers of paper) and the opposite sides or wings A and B of the strip are then compressed into frictional engagement with the ends I of the same to bind the same together.

Following the application of the clip, or simultaneously therewith if preferred, a series of spaced indentations are formed in the opposite wings of the clip, which will now be described and 10 which serve as a seal for preventing unauthorized removal of the clip.

One side of the clip (wing A) is punched inward at spaced intervals throughout its length to form a series of transversely extending indentations 3 of substantially rectangular form, concave in cross section, hereinafter termed tangs, which tangs are forced inward midway between the ends thereof to such an extent that the paper immediately thereunder is ruptured longitudinally and forced inward to be received and frictionally retained between the tang 3 and a registering convex portion 4 formed outwardly in the wing B by the punching of the tang 3.

Likewise, the wing B is similarly punched to form tangs 3, the convex portions 4 being formed in said wing intermediate the tangs 3. It will be observed, however, as illustrated in the drawings, that the tangs 3 are alternately formed in the wings A and B, and that, as shown in Fig. 3, the oppositely formed tangs are preferably indented or depressed to such an extent that they overlap each other at their centers when viewing the same in cross section.

Moreover, it may here be pointed out that in the formation of the tangs but one longitudinal side 5 thereof is sheared from the clip I, the opposite longitudinal side being crimped inward to form a compound curvature 6, which structural feature is illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, and in detail in Fig. 4.

From the above description, it will be noted that the clip serves to maintain the free ends of the folded paper together, and that the paper confined by the clip is so shredded and grasped by the arrangement of the tangs that unauthorized tampering is readily detected in view of the fact that, due to the rigidity of the seal, the paper will be mutilated in any attempt to remove the seal to secure access to the written matter or interior of the package.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing, each of the opposite longitudinal sides of the tangs 3 is sheared from the clip.

substantially rectangular form and 'being ac- T commodated by a conforming recess provided in the wing opposite to that from which the tang is struck. a

2. In a seal of the character described, .a metallic clip bent longitudinally upon itself to substantially U-shape in cross section to' em-' brace the material to be sealed, and inwardly directed tangs penetrating said material. from opposite wings of said clip, said tangs being alternately struck inward from opposite wings and'being accommodated by a conforming recess provided in'the wing opposite to that from which each tang is struck.

3. In a seal ofthe character described, a metallic clip bent longitudinally upon itself to substantially U-shape in' cross section to em brace the material to be sealed, and inwardly directed tangs penetrating said material from opposite wings of said clip, said tangs being alternately struck inward from opposite wings and being accommodated by a conforming recess provided in the wing opposite to that from which each tang is struck, said tangs being of substantially concave form in cross'section and oppositely'struck tangs overlapping each other 'at' a point approximately midway between their a ends. 7

4. In a sealof the character described, a metallicclip bent longitudinally upon itself to substantially U-shape in cross section to embrace the material to be sealed, and inwardly directed tangs penetrating said material from opposite wings of said clip, each of said tangs being of substantially rectangular form and having one longitudinal edge thereof sheared from said clip while the opposite longitudinal edge is defined by a curvature extending from the clip to the tang.

5. In a seal of the character described, a metallic clip bent longitudinally upon itself to substantially U-shape in cross section to embrace the material to be sealed, substantially rectangular indentations struck inwardly from' each of the opposite wings of the clip to a depth whereby the material is penetrated, each of said indentations being of substantially concave form in cross section and having its opposite ends formed integral with the clip and in .the same plane therewith.

6. In a seal of the character described, a metallic clip bent longitudinally upon itself to substantially U-shape in cross section to embrace the material to be sealed, indentations alternately struck inward from oppositewings of the clip to a depth whereby the material is penetrated, said indentations being of substantially concave form in cross section and op-' positely struck indentations overlapping each other at a, point approximately midway between their ends, and each of said indentations hav ing its opposite ends formed integral with the clip and in the same plane therewith.

'7. In a seal of the character described, a metallic clip 'bent longitudinally upon itself to substantially U-shape in cross section to embrace the material to be sealed, and inwardly 7 directed tangs penetrating said material from opposite'wings of said clip, said 'tangs being of substantially concave form in cross section to conform with registering convex portions struck outwardly in the wing opposite to that from which saidtangs are struck.

8. In a seal of the character described, a

metallic clip bent longitudinally upon itself to substantially U-shape in cross section to embrace the material to be sealed, and inwardly directed tangs alternately. penetrating said material from opposite wings of the clip to shred the material embraced by the clip, said tangs being of substantially concave form in cross section to conform with registering convex portions:

struck outwardly in the wing opposite to that from which said tangs are struck and the shredded portion of the material being receivedbetween said tangs and said convex portions.

ALVIN A. MASSINI. 

